/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
From Whiskeytown National Recreation Area in northern California to the Curecanti National Recreation Area in Colorado, Chris Mengel, acting superintendent for the Petrified Forest National Park (PEFO), brings a variety of experiences into the office.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
“When I was in high school, I wanted to be a park ranger,” Mengel shared. An avid history buff and outdoor enthusiast, Mengel has many stories of his life in the Park Service over the years.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
With the retirement of Superintendent Brad Traver earlier this year, Mengel was asked to step in as the acting superintendent until a new superintendent could be hired.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
Mengel took on the position on April 1, and will return to his position as Chief Ranger at the Curecanti National Recreation Area by the end of July.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
“It’s usually a four month detail,” said Mengel. “The National Park Service plans to hire a new superintendent by the end of July.”
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
When asked about the impact of the government shutdown on the park earlier this year, Mengel said the biggest impact was on the seasonal hiring. “It set the whole park service back across the United States and the shutdown impacted the routine projects and contracts as well.”
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
One of the big projects Mengel and his staff are working on right now is the installation of a microwave link to increase broadband capabilities at PEFO. “Compared to Holbrook, our internet is very slow,” shared Mengel. “It affects how many phone lines we can have and our ability to access online training.”
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
By the end of summer, Mengel is hopeful that the park will be able to get a capacity of 100 mbps to PEFO.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
Another big project on the books is the federal highways project for the repaving of the park road as well as the maintenance and repair of the four bridges.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
“We don’t have a start date at this time, but we are anticipating that it will begin in the fall and extend through the winter,” Mengel said. “It will be an inconvenience, but at the end of that project we will have a really nice roadway for the next 20 years.”
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
The Chinde Campground is still a construction priority with a hopeful open date in early 2020. Upon completion, the campground will offer 14 paying camping sites for RVs, campers or tents, giving campers a chance to enjoy the night skies and the peace of the park, while have the convenience of water and electricity.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
Mengel also noted that Park Ranger Sarah Herve has become the liaison between PEFO and the City of Holbrook, attending the chamber of commerce meetings as well as assisting the Navajo County Historical Society with the Petrified Forest National Park display in the museum. “Holbrook is our gateway city and we want to work closely with them.”
/wp:paragraph
